Smokies road status now available via texts or twitter

Travelers can sign-up to receive status updates about the Great Smoky Mountains National Park’s most frequently used roads via text message or the Internet.

Previously, travelers had to place phone calls to the park to determine the status of the roads, which can change frequently with changing weather conditions.

“While better serving the public, we can also reduce the workload to the park’s communications center,” said Dale Ditmanson, GSMNP superintendent.

Those wishing to be notified of the status of the park’s four most popular roads —Newfound Gap (U.S. 441), Little River Road, Laurel Creek Road and Cades Cove Loop Road — can get text messages to their cell phones by texting: follow smokiesroadsnps to 40404. To stop receiving the text message alerts, text stop smokiesroadsnps to the same number.

Anyone having a Twitter account can go an extra step and choose to have updates set to them by going to the site listed above and clicking the “follow” button to see the updates on their own account page and receive the notifications in the manner they specify.